Why Photo Optimization is Critical to Your Web Design

by Veronica Davis

Don't dismiss the importance of photo optimization in your web design. Here are some reasons why it's so important and ways to make it happen.

It's always been important in web design to ensure that images don't take ages to load. Now that Google has admitted that page load time will affect rankings, it's even more important. Not only will a slow loading page annoy your visitors, but it could also mean you won't be able to rank for the search phrases you're trying to rank for. One very large factor that comes into play when you start talking about web design and page load times is photo optimization.

The Trade-Off is Worth it

Sure, your site may look much snazzier with high-quality, high-resolution images, photos and graphics. It doesn't matter. Somewhere in there you're going to need to make a trade off. You'll have to compromise a little in order to get your page loading faster, because your web designer will need to use smaller files. This is only done in your best interest. If visitors do find their way to your site, they won't stay long if your site is taking too long to load. They'll simply hit the back button and be done with it.

Shrink the Size

Normally, the first step in web design for optimizing images and photos is to make sure they aren't too large. Then your designer will likely reduce the resolution down to 72 dpi, as computer monitors typically can't display anything higher than that anyways. If you have a really large photo or image that absolutely needs to stay that way, then your designer may break it up into smaller files. They'll be pieced back together to create the same effect, but with a much quicker loading time.

Other web design factors to optimize photos for faster loading times:

• Use PNG or GIF instead of JPG. JPEG can also be used if needed.
• Use width and height attributes on photos and images. If these attributes are not there, then the rest of your page will not bother to start loading until the complete graphic has been fully loaded.
• Use fewer images if possible. On web pages, images can account for over half of the loading time.
• Thumbnails or light boxes. Visitors who want to see the large, more clairvoyant image can do so, while others who don't really care about the image can continue browsing without delay.
• If you have snazzy graphical text on your page, it's slowing down the load time. Instead, use stylized text.

Web design should be an enjoyable aspect of creating the perfect site. But it does need to be well-planned and taken as seriously as any other part of the process. Take the time to ensure it's done correctly. Don't dismiss your web designer's suggestions just because it seems tedious or unimportant. By doing so, your page will impress your visitors both with its design, usability and loading time. Plus, Google won't shut the door on you simply for having a slow-loading page.

About the Author

Veronica Davis is a freelance writer that helps businesses online with everything from their website copy to social media. She often writes about SEO, web design and niche marketing strategies.